Marnane waits on Zalty for Galway Races

David Marnane will wait until later in the week before deciding whether to turn out Zalty at Galway following his good effort at York on Saturday.

Initial indications are that the four-year-old has taken his run, when fourth behind Muthmir in the Skybet Dash, in his stride.

However, the County Tipperary trainer will see how the horse is in a couple of days closer to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Ahonoora” Handicap on Sunday.

“He’s come out of the race really well and we’re very happy him,” said Marnane.

“He was bucking and squealing. We’ll see how he is over the week and speak to his owner. We’ll give it a couple of days.

“We were very happy with the run. I don’t think the draw (two) was very favourable as he had to race a bit on his own. I don’t think he’d have beaten the winner, who I think is a Group horse.

“I was delighted he’d put two good runs together (after his second at the Curragh) and one of these big days is in him.

“He could end up being a Dubai horse, as well. I think he’d love it there and is probably a seven-furlong horse.

“The stiff six (furlongs) at the Curragh suited him, but the six at York is a different ball game. They went quicker and he had no cover.”

Meanwhile Elleval will try to get back on track in the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown on August 14 following an unsuccessful trip to Pontefract on Sunday.

The four-year-old, a winner at Meydan in February, did not take to the undulations of the West Yorkshire track and was only fifth to Custom Cut in the Listed Pomfret Stakes.

Although disappointed, trainer Marnane has put the experience behind him and has not lost any faith in the son of Kodiac.

“I liked Pontefract, but Elleval didn’t,” said the County Tipperary handler.

“After 100 yards, we knew. I was disappointed because he just looked so well before the race and he was in great form.

“He is definitely up to that level but he never got going.

“When we look back on it, he likes flat tracks like Meydan, Dundalk and the Curragh. We learnt a valuable lesson and we’ll move on.

“He’ll probably show up next in the Desmond Stakes.”

Pique Sous will be prepared for next year’s Royal Ascot after a season-ending injury ruled the grey out of the Galway Hurdle.

Willie Mullins’ Queen Alexandra Stakes winner was ante-post favourite for the Galway feature, and was also strongly fancied for the Betfred Ebor at York next month, but he will now be put away until the new Flat campaign.

“The prognosis is good, long term, as it’s just a stress fracture,” Mullins told At The Races.

“It’s six weeks standing in (his box) and then he can start training again, but it comes at the wrong time of year for him so we’ll probably give him a break and concentrate on next season.

“He’ll probably be back next spring. We’ll probably try and go back to Ascot again, that might be the first plan.”